The club door swung open behind us with a heavy thud, and I stumbled out into the night air like a little fawn, unsteady on my heels.
The October cold slapped me in the face. It was the kind of chill that stung your cheeks and made you suddenly aware of just how drunk you were.
The cobbled back street was uneven, and each step I took felt like walking on ice. I had to grip Tyler's arm just to keep upright. He didn't seem to mind.
"Fuck, I'm a lightweight," I mumbled to myself. I'd never had a Blue Kamikaze before, didn't know how lethal they were.
"You alright?" he chuckled, catching me as I swayed to the side.
I hummed, the sound muffled by the fog in my head. "I didn't think I'd drank that much."
"Must've been the shots," he said with a grin.
I nodded too enthusiastically, regretting it instantly. My head spun. He steadied me again.
"So... where exactly are we going?" I asked, slurring slightly. My voice sounded too loud in the quiet street. I winced.
Tyler smiled down at me with something sly in his eyes. "You'll see, Emily."
His words sent a small shiver down my spine, but I couldn't tell if it was the cold, the booze, or something else. I tried to match his pace as we walked further into the winding side streets, but everything was blurry — him, the streetlamps, even the sky.
I was so out of it that I barely noticed the buzz from my purse. My phone. I blinked down at the screen, trying to focus.
Four new messages.
From Isabel.
---------------------
Iz: Emily!!!
Iz: Please don't leave!!!
Iz: Don't go with him!!!
Iz: It's a TRAP!
---------------------
I stopped walking.
The words swam on the screen, and for a second I thought maybe I was imagining things. I read them again. And again, shoving the screen closer to my eyes.
'What the hell?'
"Has your friend finally got back to you?" Tyler asked casually, glancing over his shoulder.
I panicked. I wasn't thinking clearly. I could barely string a thought together, let alone make a rational decision.
"Err... no. It's just a random number," I lied, sliding the phone back into my bag with shaky fingers.
Why the fuck did I lie?
He raised a brow, but didn't press. Just kept walking.
I don't know why I didn't just stop right there and turn around. Go back inside. Call for help. Text Isabel. Something.
But I didn't. I just kept walking behind him like some lost puppy, trying to piece things together while he led me down tighter, quieter streets.
Then he turned into an alley.
I hesitated. The narrow space was tucked between two tall buildings at the back of a warehouse. A single flickering light above a rusted door made the scene feel haunted. My stomach twisted.
Still, I followed. Like prey that wanted to be hunted.
"Ty," a voice called from deeper in the alley.
A man emerged from the shadows, tall and broad with burgundy hair and a face that instantly jogged my memory. He'd been in the club earlier, standing near the back, barely moving. Watching.
It was him. The "bouncer."
Tyler gave the man a small smile before spinning back around to me.
"Emily, this is Jack, a close friend of mine."
I could feel his harsh gaze on me just like before. I avoided eye contact and just managed to murmur a hey.
"Where's Dylan and Nate?" Tyler turned back to the other.
I didn't like it. At all Something told me I should run, but my feet remained glued to the ground. I couldn't even feel my legs. I swear, at this point, it was probably only muscle memory that was keeping me upright.
He scoffed at Tyler's question. "Late, Boss."
'Boss?'
Immediate goosebumps up my arms. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Every cell in my body screamed it.
I should've ran. I should've screamed. But my legs felt like jelly, and my mind was too fogged to think straight.
Tyler clicked his tongue and frowned, rubbing his temples with his fingers. He seemed frustrated. They moved closer to each other and started a tense conversation that I couldn't overhear.
I clutched my phone again, hiding the screen in my palm, and started to type.
---------------------
Me: What do u mean?
Iz: OH MY GOD! Thank fuck you're okay!
Me: Ofc I am
Iz: Where are you?
Me: Outside with this guy
Iz: Jesus Emily! You need to listen to me!
Iz: You need to get away from him now!
Iz: You need to run!
Iz: He's not who you think he is!
Iz: They are dangerous!
Iz: It's a trap!
Me: Jesus calm down
Me: Who r u talking about?
Iz: JACK EVANS!
Me: Jack? He's here talking to Tyler
Iz: NOOO! FUCK EMILY YOU NEED TO RUN NOW!!!
---------------------
My mouth went dry. I could hear my heartbeat now — heavy, deafening, echoing inside my head. My fingers trembled as I lowered the phone.
I'd fucked up. Big time.
"Emily," Tyler said, startling me. "Is that number bothering you again?"
I looked up at him, suddenly aware of how dark his eyes were. Not playful. Not drunk. Just cold.
"Err... yeah. Just blocked them," I lied again, trying to sound casual. But I couldn't hide the fear in my voice.
"You know, I'm starting to feel a bit sick," I stuttered quickly. "I think I'm gonna go home now."
His smile faded.
"Oh, really? But the night's only just begun, sweetheart."
He was scaring me.
"Yeah, I just... I don't feel too good. I wanna go home now... sorry."
I took another step back and he took one forward. Cold dark eyes stared back at me, nothing behind them.
"At least allow me to drive you, then."
I shook my head and politely apologised, taking another step.
"No, honestly, it's okay, I'll just call a taxi."
I turned away from them to try to leave, but Tyler continued, his voice now louder and more persistent.
"There's a lot of bad people in these streets, darling. I insist..."
I hesitated.
As I turned back around, I was met with his face just inches from me, grinning creepily.
I froze, now visibly frightened.
My breathing quickened, my eyes widened, and I gulped.
I glanced behind him momentarily to see Jack shuffling something in his hands.
"Jack," Tyler said quietly, "get her."
It was too late. The events had set into motion.
I ran.
I didn't think.
I didn't look back.
I just sprinted, adrenaline crashing through my system. My heels slammed against the ground as I bolted.
But Jack was faster.
I felt a rough hand clamp over my mouth and I screamed into it, kicking and thrashing wildly.
Somehow — by some miracle — I landed a sharp kick behind me and felt his grip loosen with a grunt of pain. I stumbled forward, fell hard on my hands and knees, then scrambled on all fours.
But Tyler was already there.
He tackled me down, pinning me to the cold ground. I screamed again, uselessly.
No one could hear. No one would help.
He sniggered and clapped his hands, mocking me as if applauding my attempts.
"Silly little girl," he mused. "What made you think you could escape?"
I lay flat on my stomach on the ground in the darkness.
Then felt a surge of pain as he grabbed a handful of my hair and violently yanked my head backwards, arching my spine and causing excruciating pain. I let out a piercing cry and winced.
He crouched down behind me, almost crushing my back under the weight of his knee between my shoulder blades, and tilted his head as our eyes locked in a chilling stare.
Face to face with pure evil.
"Between you and me, Emily..." he whispered, almost gently.
He leaned in closer to my face, his hot breath burning my skin. All I could do was whimper helplessly beneath him like a child.
"I knew you'd be a fighter."
I stared up at him, shaking, helpless.
He smiled wider.
Something pressed to my nose and mouth.
I went dizzy.
I don't remember anything else.
I was out cold.